PhD Defence 

Auditorium 10, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen Ø

Wednesday, 23 May 2018, 14:30 and following

 Giulia Montanari, MSc 

Functionalised inhibitors: The role of organic molecules on CaCO₃ crystallisation

 NanoGeoScience Group, Nano-Science Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen

 Abstract

Mineral scaling, the formation of precipitates on surfaces, influences fluid flow and production efficiency in domestic and industrial activities. This research investigated CaCO₃ crystal growth, in particular strategies for its inhibition, by taking inspiration from biominerals, where mineralisation is regulated by organic molecules. Nucleation and crystal growth rates were determined, fitting data with adsorption models and relating mineral surface composition, crystal type, size and morphology to the concentration, structure and functional groups of the amino acids and carboxylic acid. Calcite seeded growth experiments were carried out, as well as nucleation and growth studies from supersaturated solutions, using a combination of geochemical modelling and surface sensitive techniques, to obtain a deeper understanding of the processes that occur when a molecule is introduced into a CaCO₃ precipitating system.